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The Alabama football team fell to SEC rival Tennessee on Saturday, dropping its second game in three weeks. After reaching the top spot in the AP Poll with a win over Georgia, the Crimson Tide have tumbled.
The downward spiral has led to criticisms from both fans and former players. One of those critics is AJ McCarron, who noted a difference in the team’s mindset as it adjusts to a new staff.
McCarron has been outspoken in the month of October with the Tide falling to both the Vols and the Commodores. He doesn’t believe the focus is fully on the team, but rather on the individual.
NIL and social media have clouded the outlooks of current players, according to the national championship winning passer. Things just aren’t what they used to be!
“It’s definitely a different era. I don’t think you’ll see the same standard from discipline— just things that the team seems to do. It’s a new day and age.
“Everybody’s worried about f–king TikTok and having a reel and being on highlights for their personal self and personal gain, and how much money they can get from NIL…
“It was a team sport. You came together as a team because you had one common goal: because you knew that’s how you were going to make your money, was by winning.”
-AJ McCarron
McCarron’s point was made shortly after those comments went viral.
Ryan Williams repped orange nails after losing to Tennessee.
Williams is already the biggest star on the Alabama football team as a freshman. His ability to make defenses look silly has been on full display from the moment he stepped foot on the field.
Those talents were crucial in the Crimson Tide’s win over Georgia as he made the game-winning catch in the fourth quarter. He also immediately doubled his NIL value after the fact!
Part of that NIL worth is directly linked to social media where Williams has a major following – TikTok specifically.
The wideout is always active through win or loss.
@ryan2_williams We come back stronger 💪#gghollywood #fyp #fy #viral #rolltide ♬ original sound – Ryan Williams
That video was posted after the Vanderbilt game.
It infuriated Alabama football fans.
Two weeks later, Williams reignited the flames!
TRENDING: Alabama star Ryan Williams on IG pic.twitter.com/8OFyvHC30u
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 23, 2024
He showed off his orange fingernails to Instagram followers days after losing to the Vols. It wasn’t the best look with the team continuing to be criticized.
Is Williams focused on Missouri this weekend or posting content? AJ McCarron and others want to know!
It’s a question that might not need to be asked in his case as he leads the team in receiving and has more touchdowns than the rest of the wideout room combined.
Still, it did little to quiet the narrative surrounding the Crimson Tide!